The Arizona sentinel., 1887-06-25
FOOD AND EXERCISE.

The formation of every animal IS Of
 course fixed through its breeding. If
 this result could not be assured, the
 breeders art would be stripped of
 much of the charm that surrounds 1t.
 But when it is considered that a COW of
 one of the beef breeds, carrying a
 weight of 1,5O0 pounds. has received
 1,4O0 pounds of this weight through
 the feeders art no argument is needed
 to convince any one that feeding cuts
 an important figure in shaping the
 form. A young oak is taken up from
 its natural place in a forest where the
 soil is rich, deep and moist, and trans
 planted into the soil of a dry, sandy
 plain, where only scrub oaks are found.
 If it survives it will not take the shape
 and stature it would have taken
 had it been left to grow in the soil where its wants would have been fully met Trees and cattle alike are sus-
 ceptible of great changes, growing out of the way they are nourished and
 trained. Yet the laws of nature, in
 the direction of changing the charac-
 ter and proportion of the tissues
 through feeding special foods can not
 be changed. While an extraordinary effort Tn this direction may appear to
 be attended with some show of results in the direction aimed at, these must, in the nature of things, be exceedingly restricted. and so opposed to the nat ural order that no paying results can ever be reached. There is partial exception to be made here, due to the fact that some foods create a more rapid fat deposit than others. Yet bear in mind that fat is one of the ar ticles necessary in making up the anatomical structure of a beast It has no agency in nov ing the body; is not contractile or ex- pansive like the muscles; is, in fact, mere accumulation of surplus nutri- ment stored up for future use.
 The relative proportion of the tissues of which the body IS made up, can be changed only through selection and exercise. Thus, if man has a COW or bull having an especial development in any portion of the body, be this broad, heavy loin. or other peculiarity, this can be perpetuated. for it is part of the anatomical formation and as likely to appear in the progeny as in a coarse head or horn. There are pecul- iarities of formation, as shown now and then in marked development of some portion of the muscular system, yet the bulk of part can be increased by giving that part free exercise. Thus, the hook, hind quarters and loin of a COW compelled to ascend high hill daily to the pasture grounds, if this be fol- lowed up from calf-hood to mature age, will certainly be widened and thick ened. This, for the same reason that the continuous extra exeItion of the blacksmith right arm is followed by a large development of the muscles thus brought into use. But no result of this kind can be reached through any special plan of feeding whatever. It would be as rational to endeavor, through special sort of manures, to cause the fibers of the sap portion of tree to take on an especially rapid growth, outstripping the heart. wood and bark. If it is peculiar to tree or plant to have thick bark. or other part in excess, this can only be altered by engrafting upon it another variety, if this be practicable.
 As stated. the feed given to an ami nal from calf-hood up to the attain ment of a weight of 1,500 pounds, or any other respectable weight, cuts so important a figure in maturing the beast that every phase of the question of foods, feeding and ready assimila- tion should be more generally studied than now. The question should not be, how much fat can be put on in the case of beast to be retained as breeder, but rather how much health and symmetrical development can be given the whole body through appro- priate food and exercise. Do not, in the case of breeding animals, plan that the beasts may get to the pasture ground by very short cut, because if the feed is abundant and an inviting shade at hand, the animals will become too indolent. For this reason. the treatment of cattle being fed for market should not be the same as that of those that are to remain upon the premises, as the basis for future increase. Econ omical expenditure of food is of the first importance in the case of animals that are being prepared for market. With those it is supposed that all the development of muscle that can be ex- pected has been secured, and rapid ac- emulation of weight being the object, they should have rest, and plenty of it. Hence the fattening animals should go to the nearest feeding ground, and where water is within easy reach. But breeding animals of the improved kinds have been so radio ally changed from the natural conditions-fa substituted for that full development of muscle that comes in great measure from eXercise-that it will be wise for those who have favored the habit of indolence, in con- nection with high feeding, to consider what the result has been. It is of the first importance to know whether the tendency to increase in the herd has been preserved or lessened, or, on the other hand, whether indications of steriltY have not appeared, showing